Causes

Nerves coming from the spine and major blood vessels of the body pass through a narrow space near your shoulder and collarbone on the way to the arms. Sometimes, there is not enough space for the nerves to pass by through the collarbone and upper ribs.

Pressure (compression) on these blood vessels or nerves can cause symptoms in the arms or hands.

Pressure may happen if you have:

An extra rib above the first one.

An abnormal tight band connecting the spine to the ribs.

People with this syndrome often have injured the area in the past or overused the shoulder.

People with long necks and droopy shoulders may be more likely to develop this condition because of extra pressure on the nerves and blood vessels.

Symptoms

Symptoms of thoracic outlet syndrome may include:

Pain, numbness, and tingling in the pinky and ring fingers, and the inner forearm

Pain and tingling in the neck and shoulders (carrying something heavy may make the pain worse)

Signs of poor circulation in the hand or forearm (a bluish color, cold hands, or a swollen arm)

Weakness of the muscles in the hand

Exams and Tests

Your health care provider will examine you and ask about your medical history and symptoms.

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